A MAN once named ‘Britain’s naughtiest kid’ now earns £360k-a-year and helps people transform their lives.
Tom Roberts appeared on the Channel 4 show Mr Drew’s School For Boys in 2014 when he was 11 years old after his behaviour spiralled “out of control” and he eventually would end up in prison.
The 24-year-old says his behaviour on the show was “awful” as he was swearing at adults on screen and was constantly getting in trouble for fighting.
His behaviour continued into his adult life, but it wasn’t until he was sentenced twice for grievous bodily harm in 2020 and 2021 that he received the “wake up call” he needed and decided to turn a new leaf.
Tom, who is originally from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, said: “I got into a lot of trouble, was always fighting and I didn’t know how to control my emotions.
“The death of my dad made things a lot worse and I was pushing everyone around me to their limits.
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“The show labelled me ‘Britain’s naughtiest kid’ and it was hard to escape that.”
Following his release in March 2023, Tom indulged in self-help books and sought out advice from wellness coaches – including Bob Proctor.
It inspired him to move to Kok Samui, Thailand to start his own personal developmental school called Generation I, in December 2023.
Two years later, he now has 240 clients worldwide – earning £30k a month – and helps them to be “the best version of themselves.”
Tom said: “I had to make a change and found comfort in reading about wellness and the mind.
“It inspired me to help others and for those not to make the same mistakes I did.”
Tom frequently climbed out of windows and was constantly in trouble at school.
When his dad, Lou, passed away from alcoholism aged 56 when Tom was nine, he became “out of control.”
But it wasn’t until he was expelled just weeks before finishing primary school for calling his headteacher a “bald idiot k******d” that his mother, Christina Sadler, 52, put Tom forward for the show.
She had heard about the opportunity after reading about it in a magazine.
“It was described as a rehabilitation programme which documented other ‘naughty kids’,” Tom said.
He continued: “Behind the scenes, the staff were trained specifically in helping those with behavioural management problems.
“They also helped support the parents too. “It lasted for four weeks and I wouldn’t say for sure that it helped shape me to become better.”
Soon after the show, Tom started secondary school where he was expelled for a second time just after three months.
He transitioned to a special school called Archers Brook where he remained and passed all of GCSEs.
Although Tom went on to pursue a level two and three course in business studies at college, his temper and emotions continued to get the better of him.
And in November 2020, Tom was sentenced to a total of 11 months, suspended for 18 months, at Chester Crown Court under charges of grievous bodily harm. It came after he punched a man in the face at Tenpin in Cheshire Oaks.
Despite Tom’s narrow miss with jail time, in September 2021, he was charged with grievous bodily harm again after breaking man’s jaw at a nightclub.
He was convicted at the same court and was sentenced to a total of 18 months in a young offenders institution.
This included 10 months for the suspended sentence breach and an additional eight months for the new assault.
“It was massive time for reflection,” Tom said.
“I found more peace in prison because I had structure. I would eat, sleep, train, walk and go outside at the same time every day.
“It was sort of a blessing for my ADHD mind.”
He added: “During my time, I read developmental and self-performance books and became hooked. I slowly got the desire to start building a business of my own but I didn’t know how.
“I became disciplined and didn’t give up.”
Tom was released from HMP Hindley in March 2023 with the plan to “start anew.”
He became focused on self-improvement and – after investing in mentors – he moved to Kok Samui, Thailand the following November.
Eventually, he started his own business called Generation I a month after, designed to prescribe people with development plans to help “transform their lives” and “rewrite their own story.”
Since establishing his online company, Tom has acquired 240 clients from all over the world.
“It’s such a fulfilling job,” he said.
He added: “For most of my childhood – basically until now – people have told me that I’d amount to nothing.
“And now I’m an entrepreneur shaping lives for the better. Kind of like a therapist.”
Tom said: “Looking back at my younger self, I agree that my behaviour was awful.
“But I also see a boy who needed help and guidance.
You are not defined by your past and I’m living proof that you can always turn a new leaf. Never give up!”
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